On November 12, 2025, SKIMS announced that it has secured $225 million in new funding, bringing its valuation to approximately $5 billion. The funding round was led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from funds affiliated with BDT & MSD Partners.
Founded in 2019 by Kim Kardashian and entrepreneur Jens Grede, SKIMS initially focused on shapewear and intimates. Over the years, the brand has expanded into lounges, apparel, activewear, and even beauty products, establishing itself as a full lifestyle brand.
Takeaway: The latest SKIMS funding underscores investor confidence in the brand’s growth trajectory and market potential.
Growth Trajectory and Market Positioning
SKIMS is on track to surpass $1 billion in net sales in 2025, reflecting strong consumer demand and effective marketing. Inclusive sizing and Kim Kardashian’s global social-media influence have been critical to SKIMS’ rapid rise, especially among younger audiences.
The brand’s evolution from a celebrity-founded startup to a serious player in the apparel and lifestyle category highlights its cultural relevance. With this funding, SKIMS’ valuation now rivals or exceeds several legacy fashion brands, showing investors’ appetite for digitally-native consumer businesses.
How SKIMS Plans to Use the Funding
The $225 million will be allocated across strategic growth initiatives:
- Broaden Product Lines: Expand beyond shapewear to apparel, activewear, and lifestyle offerings.
- Retail Expansion: Increase investment in physical retail locations in the U.S. and internationally, complementing its strong digital presence.
- Global Growth: Scale operations in additional international markets beyond current U.S. and Mexico locations.
Takeaway: SKIMS is positioning itself as more than an online shapewear company — it’s now a full lifestyle brand with omnichannel growth ambitions.
Why SKIMS Funding Matters
SKIMS’ funding highlights a broader trend: investors are increasingly backing celebrity-founded consumer brands with built-in audiences and cultural influence. The brand joins a growing roster of successful ventures like Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty and Khloé Kardashian’s Good American, where storytelling, social-media reach, and innovation drive valuation.
The jump to a $5 billion valuation demonstrates that investors remain willing to back strong consumer brands even in a cautious macroeconomic environment. SKIMS’ success shows that a brand with cultural relevance, growth momentum, and retail expansion plans can attract significant capital.
Impact on the Apparel and Shapewear Industry
The SKIMS funding round illustrates how fashion and apparel companies can now achieve multi-billion valuations without decades of heritage. Key factors driving this new era include:
- Inclusive sizing and direct-to-consumer distribution
- Strong brand narrative and cultural resonance
- Omnichannel retail presence
- Scalable business models and global growth potential
For competitors, SKIMS sets a new standard: inclusive products, digital-first strategies, and brand-driven growth are now expected benchmarks.
Conclusion
The $225 million SKIMS funding at a $5 billion valuation is a milestone for the company and a signal to the consumer-brand investment community. For Kim Kardashian and her co-founders, this round validates their long-term vision of transforming SKIMS into a globally recognized lifestyle brand beyond shapewear.
